Roller.



J. G. BAILEY.

ROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. II. 1914.

1,21 1,81 1. v Patented Jan. 9,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

1. e. B AlLEY.

ROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 11. 1914.

Patented Jan. 9,1917;

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR.

sir @FFIQE.

ROLLER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 9, 1%1'7.

Application filed April 11, 1914. Serial No. 831,153. 1

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES G. BAILEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Delavan, in the county of Tazewell and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rollers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in ground rollers and clod crushers, the principal object being the provision of a simple and economical device, which is cheap to manufacture, efficient in operation andwhich may be readily and cheaply shipped. A further object is the provision of a device of this character, wherein the ground engaging portions are in the form of rings and having sharp edges, said rings being spaced apart, so that the clods of dirt will be pulverized and at the same time none of the earth will be retained in or on the device, but will drop back as a loose mulch on the surface of the soil.

A further object of my invention is the provision of such a device having a plurality of rings substantially square in cross .section with one edge forming the ground engaging portion; washer members interposed between said rings to space them apart and securing means passing through said washer members to hold the parts in assembled relation.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and such other objects as may hereinafter appear, my invention consists in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter'described, and then sought to be defined in the appended claims, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, and which shows.

merely forrthe purpose of illustrative disclosure, a preferred embodiment of my 111- vention, it being understood that various changes may be made in practice within the scope of the claims, without digressing from my inv entive idea.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a device constructed according to my invention; Fig. 2 represents a plan view of a portion of this device, the sections of the roller being adjusted at an angleto each other; Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the roller showing the construction thereof, parts being broken away to facilitate disclosure; Fig. 4 is an elevation of the coupling between the frame and the shaft of the roller; Fig. 5 is a section sub stantially on line 55 of Fig.4, changes of position being indicated in I dotted lines; Fig. 6 is a plan taken substantially on line 66 of Fig. 4, various positions being shown in dotted lines; Fig. 7 is an isometric view ofone of the spacing or washer members; Fig. 8 is a view of one of the intermediate retaining wheels or spiders, and Fig. 9 is an sometric perspective of one of the weighting members. I

This invention relates to that class of devices illustrated in my prior application for patent filed December 13th, 1911, and bearing Serial N 0. 665,548, certain features thereof being utilizedin connection with the disclosure in this application and which form no part of this invention.

In the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the horizontal frame support which is formed of angle iron and has the tongue 2 connected therewith Connected to the ends of this horizontal frame support, are the arms 3 which extend rearwardly and downwardly as shown to provide supporting means for the stub-axles. The eXtremital portion of each arm 3 is provided with a semi-circular socket 4 adapted to cooperate with the semi-circular socket 5 on the cap member 6 to form-a complete socket to receive the ball 7 through which the studshaft 8 projects, thecapmember 6 being secured to the arms 3 by means of the nut and bolt connections 9, as shown.

It is to be understood that the intermediate stud-shafts 10 are connected by a central pivoting coupling 11, such as shown in my. prior application, hereinbefore referred to, the connecting bar 12 extending from the tongue 2 to said coupling for the purpose of adjusting the two sections on the roller relative to each other, as is fully explained in my said prior application. The seat 13 is mounted on said central pivoting coupling as shown, the seat itself being positioned immediately above said coupling.

The particular roller forming apart of this invention comprises a plurality of rings 14 which are substantially square in crosssection, as shown, having one of its edges to form the periphery of each ring to engage the ground as at 15. These rings are spaced apart so as to provide a roller of open formation, as shown, and are suitably held together. The spacing and holding means includes the members 16 which have the extended body portions 17, which body portions 17 have their ends notched or formed with an inclined groove 18, as shown, this notched groove corresponding in shape and size to the side portions of the rings 14:. Depending from the body portion of each of said spacing and securing members is the lug, ear or extension 19, which is apertured as at 20 to receive the securing bolt or rod 21.

, Mounted at the ends of each roller section, are the supporting spiders or wheels 22, having the radiating arms 23, which have the notched or V shaped groove 24 near its end to receive the inside edge of the end ring, as shown, said radial arms also having an aperture 25 to receive said bolt or rod 21. It is to be noted that the spider or wheel 22 at the inner end of each section, has its arms 23 inclined outwardly so as to provide room for the pivoting coupling, as shown. This completes the construction of each roller section, it being understood that the supporting wheels or spiders 22 are mounted on the stud'shafts 8 and 10, so as to support the roller sections.

A further improvement is in the means of providing various desired weights for each roller section, which means is shown in detail in Fig. 9, including the drum or cylinder 26 having the ends 27 secured thereto by means of bolts 28, passing through the ears 29. It is to be understood that the ends 27 are apertured as at 30 to receive the studshafts. In one end of this member 26 I provide the opening 31 having the cover 32 secured thereto, by means of bolts 33 passing through the alined lugs 3A. This is for the purpose of providing means whereby the cylinder or drum maybe filled with earth or other suitable substance so as to gage and vary the weight of the cylinder and drum and vary the effective weight of the roller itself. The particular advantages resulting from this form of device, reside in the ready and secure manner of assembling the same, the manner of varying the weight thereof, the provision for adjustment of the roller sections at an angle, whereby a grinding action is obtained, so that the sub-soil is packed, the earth on the surface being lifted and pulverized so as to fall back in the form of a loose mulch.

This device will cover all depressions and remove all inequalities, acting as a leveler. In operation, it destroys air-cells, stopping evaporation and retaining the moisture in the ground. On account of the relatively small bearing surface of each ring, this device may be readily used when the soil is damp or wet, as very little of the sticky earth will adhere thereto, and the grinding action referred to, will remove this or keep it at a minimum.

Another important consideration is the lightness of the roller construction itself,

V which permits handling and shipping with facility and at a minimum expense, whlle provision is made for the application and variation of the weight according to the requirements of the device, at the time of use.

What I claim is 1. In a device of the character described, a roller composed of rings spaced apart to provide an open formation, said rings being substantially square in cross-section, and disposed so that one angle forms a ground engaging edge.

2. In a device of the character described, a'roller composed of rings spaced apart to provide an open formation, said rings being substantially square in cross-section, and disposed so that one angle forms a ground engaging edge, spacing and holding members interposed between said rings, and securing means connected to said spacing and holding members.

3. In a device of the character described, a roller composed of rings spaced apart to provide an open formation, said rings being substantially square in cross-section, and disposed so that one angle forms a ground engaging edge, spacing and holding members interposed between said rings, having sockets in which said rings are fitted and securing means connecting said spacing and holding members.

:1. In a device of the character described, a roller composed of rings spaced apart to provide an open formation, said rings being substantially square in cross-section, and disposed so that one angle forms a ground engaging edge, spacing and holding members interposed between said spaced rings and having V shaped grooves or notches receiving the side edges of said rings, and securing means passing through said spacing and holding members.

5. A roller including supporting members, a plurality of rings square in crosssection and disposed so that one angle forms a ground engaging edge, spacing and holding members interposed between said rings, and securing means passing through said supporting members and said spacing and holding members to hold the parts in assembled relation.

6. A roller including supporting members having V shaped grooves 0r notches formed therein, a plurality of rings square in cross-section and disposed so that one angle forms a ground engaging edge, spacing and holding members interposed between said rings for holding them in spaced relation, said spacing and holding members having V shaped grooves or notches to receive the side edges of said rings, one of the side edges of the end rings fitting in said V shaped grooves or notches in said sup porting members, and securing means passing through said supporting members and said spacing and holding members for securing the parts in assembled relation.

7. A roller including supporting members, a plurality of rings square in crosssection and disposed so that one angle forms a ground engaging edge, spacing and holding members interposed between said rings to space them apart and having V shaped grooves or notches provided therein to receive the side edges of said rings, said spacing and holding members each also having a depending portion, said depending portion being apertured, and securing means passing through said supporting members and said apertured depending portions of said spacing and holding members.

8. A roller including in combination, supporting members, a plurality of rings, a. plurality of separate spacing and holding members interposed between each pair. of adjacent rings and in alinement with each other and each having a notch in its edge in which a side of said ring engages, each of said rings having a ground engaging edge, and securing means connected to said supporting members and passing through said alined spacing and holding members to hold the parts in assembled relation.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES G. BAILEY. Witnesses:

J. M. ANDERSON, P. M. CoPELAND.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

